MIKAEL Silvestre has claimed that a second-placed Barclaycard Premiership finish for Manchester United would take some of the hurt away from the loss of their title to Arsenal.

United take on Charlton at Old Trafford tonight looking to close the gap on Chelsea to a single point in the battle for the second automatic Champions League place.

After a decade of fighting for the championship, scrapping for second is a new experience for Sir Alex Ferguson and his men, one they are not too keen on.

But according to Silvestre at least, if they succeed in their current aim, United would have a small reason to smile.

"If we got second, it would mean we had not done so badly this season," he told MUTV.

"We are a long way from Arsenal at the moment because the level of our performances is not what we wanted it to be.

"You need consistency to win the the championship - that is why we are third."

Return

Ferguson is able to welcome back 26-goal hit-man Ruud van Nistelrooy for tonight's clash after the Dutchman's four-game absence with a knee injury.

However, he has lost Paul Scholes, not just for Charlton's visit but also that of Liverpool on Saturday and the trip to Blackburn on May 1.

Scholes picked up a three-match ban from the Football Association yesterday after pleading guilty to the violent conduct charge brought against him for his attack on Middlesbrough's Doriva during the Premiership encounter with the Teessiders at Old Trafford on February 11.

By starting his suspension immediately, the 29-year-old England international - who took his goal tally for the season to 14 with his FA Cup semi-final winner against Arsenal earlier this month - is clear to play in the crucial clash with Chelsea on May 8 as well as safeguarding his place for the Millennium Stadium meeting against Millwall a fortnight later.

Scholes absence could see the return of skipper Roy Keane from a hamstring problem, although neither Phil Neville (ankle) or Kleberson (knee), who both returned to training yesterday, are likely to be considered.

Having suffered their first defeat in six matches in the loss at Fratton Park, Silvestre is looking for United to return to winning form.

Tough

However, the French defender recognises that will be no easy task against a Charlton side that won at Anfield 10 days ago and will leapfrog Liverpool, Newcastle and Aston Villa into fourth spot if they break an Old Trafford duck that dates back to 1986 and the pre-Ferguson era.

"They are a good team that travels well," observed Silvestre.

"Even though they lost Scott Parker in January they have still done well. You don't tend to hear too much about them but we know they will come to Old Trafford and fight, so we must respond to that."

Chelsea failed to make the most of United's weekend reverse by only drawing at home to Everton and it is looking certain that the runners-up spot will eventually be determined when the two sides meet on the penultimate weekend of the season.

In the meantime, Silvestre knows the Red Devils can put themselves in the best possible mood for that clash by winning the rest of their fixtures, which includes inflicting another crushing defeat on Liverpool this Saturday.

"Chelsea have given us a chance to get closer to them and we need to take it," said the 26-year-old.

"If we win we would only be a point behind them, which would give us a massive lift, particularly with Liverpool coming up on Saturday."